Country facing multiple problems: NA Speaker
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—The Speaker National Assembly, Dr. Fahmida Mirza has said that the country is confronting problems of poverty, unemployment, law and order, inflation, injustice, low growth, investment and terrorism that needed immediate attention and redressal.
She said this while talking to six-member delegation headed by Mr Oliver O Mahony that called on her in the parliament House on Tuesday. The speaker said that with the election of new Parliament Pakistan has witnessed a tremendous change and unlike the past it is having a Parliament responsible to the people fully charged with the resolve to solve the problems of poverty and backwardness and widening gap between the have and have-nots in the country.
She said that the past dictatorial system is responsible for the social and economic evils confronting the country and now it is imperative for political forces to get united to resolve these issues. Underlining the need for strengthening institutions in the country, the speaker said that only strong democratic institutions and strong parliament are the appropriate forums to redress the long-standing problems of the people.
She said that each institution has a role and therefore should be allowed to perform in its sphere prescribed in the constitution. The speaker said that she wanted the parliament to be completed by appointing the leader of opposition as soon as possible.
She said that unlike the past she would work to make the parliament more vibrant by allowing equal opportunity to all members from diverse parties and facilitating maximum legislation for the welfare of the people. She said that empowerment of women was one of the priorities of the government and the parliament will ensure that real empowerment of women and gender equality in the country does take place.
She said that the politicians and Parliamentarian are more committed and want to achieve the targets set by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.